Igniting device.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. GOODWIN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

IGNITING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. Goonwrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Igniting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in igniting devices.

The object of the invention is to provide a receptacle constructed to contain a number of combustible pellets and adapted to fit within an ordinary match-box.

Another feature resides in a cap and a specially-constructed valve whereby a pellet may be allowed to enter the cap, which latter is cut away so as to expose a portion of the pellet for the purpose of bringing the same in contact with a rough surface for the purposes of ignition.

Finally, the object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described that will be strong, durable, and efficient and simple and comparatively inexpensive to make and one in which the several parts will not be liable to get out of working order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel details of construction and operation, a preferable embodiment of which is described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a match-box, showing my invention applied thereto and the valve closed and supporting a pellet in the cap. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cover of the match-box swung back and the valve open for the purpose of allowing a pellet to pass into the cap. Fig. 3 is a plan view, the cover of the matchbox being swung back. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line an ac of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the receptacle with the cap and s ring removed. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of tlie upper portion of the receptacle. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the cap. Fig. 8 is an underside view of the cap. Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of one of the combustible pellets, and Fig. 10 is a plan view of the valve.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates an ordinary match-box, which maybe formed of any suitable material and constructed in any suitable manner wholly at the option of the manufacturer. In the drawings I have shown the fiat and rounded match-box 1,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 10,,1905. $erial No. 249,337.

Patented June 12, 1906.

which is common in the art, and comprises the hinged cover 2, fastened in its closed position by the usual spring-latch 3, while a short flat spring 4, having a bent end bearing against the inner rear wall of the cover, is secured to the inner surface of the box for raising the cover and throwing it backward to the position shown in Fig. 2 when the latch 3 is pressed inward. My invention consists more especially in a receptacle or bottle 5, formed in any suitable manner and material, but shaped so as to fit snugly within the box 1. The receptacle or bottle 5 is formed at its upper end with a neck 6, which when the bottle is placed in the box 1 projects slightly above-the box proper, as shown in Fig. 2. The neck is formed at its upper end with an annular outturned flange 7. The flange is formed in its upper surface with an angular recess 8, parallel to the sides of the bottle, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5 A

- cap 9, provided with draft perforations 10, is

formed with an enlarged laterally-extending collar portion 11, which collar portion is formed in its vertical sides with oppositelydisposed slots 12, adapted to register with the recess 8 and form a continuous opening when the cap is placed upon the flange 7. At the lower end of the collar portion 11 I form an annular flange 13, adapted to be bent inward and under the flange 7, so as to securely fasten the cap on the bottle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The interior of the cap proper has a diameter substantially the same as that of the neck 6; but at its upper end the cap is merged inward, so as to contract its open end, as indicated at 1 4 in the drawings, and thus reduce the diameter at that point.

It is my purpose to deposit in the bottle a number of combustible pellets 15, preferably spherical in shape and having a center of inflammable material 1 6, on which is arranged a coating of igniting substance. These pellets have a diameter slightly less than that of the neck 6, so as to readily pass into the neck, but fitting tightly enough to prevent crowding and jamming.

A solid valve 18, formed of any suitable material, is arranged in the recess 8 and projects through the slots 12, as indicated in the drawings. The valve is formed with a bent end 19, which normally projects in j uxtaposition to the latch 3 of the boX 1. In its opposite end the valve is formed with a transverse slot 20, through which loosely projects the upper end of a flat spring 21, suitably fastened at its lower end upon the bottle 5. The spring is arranged so that when the valve is in its closed or normal position the spring bears against or abuts the collar portion 11, thus providing a stop to prevent overthrow of the valve. The valve 18 is formed with a cylindrical openin 22 of such diameter as to allow one of the pellets to pass freely therethrough. This opening is so disposed in the valve that when the same is in its normal position the solid portion of the valve will stand across the neck and close the same; but when the valve 18 is pushed inward or away from the latch 3 the opening will be caused to lie concentric with the interior of the neck and allow the pellets to pass therethrough into the cap. When the valve is moved, the

. spring 21 is forced back and the movement of the valve is limited by lugs 23, which impinge the flange 7 at the sides of the recess 8, thereby preventing overthrow, and upon relieving the pressure on the valve the spring 21 will return the valve to its normal position.

The cap 9 is of such size as to receive and contain above the valve a single pellet, and it is to be understood that when it is desired to admit a pellet into the cap the box must be inverted, so as to allow the pellet to fall by gravity through the opening 22. l/Vhen the valve 18 returns to its normal position, thus supporting the pellet within the cap 9, a portion of the pellet projects beyond the upper edge of the cap, but the pellet is retained within the cap by the contracted portion 14.

The portion of the pellet exposed is sufficient to provide a striking or igniting surface.

It is to be observed that by disposing the bent end 19 of the valve 18 in juxtaposition to the latch 3, when the operator has opened the box by depressing the latch 3, he has merely to slide his thumb upward and inward to engage the end 19, and thus force the valve 18 backward to cause the opening 22 to register with the neck 6, thereby opening the box and admitting a pellet into the cap in a practically single and continuous operation.

In operating my improved igniting device the operator, placing his thumb upon the latch 3, depresses the same, thus allowing the spring 4 to raise and throw back the cover 2. Moving his thumb upward and inward the bent end 19 is encountered, and on pressing upon the same and at the same time inverting the box, so as to cause the bottle 5 to stand upside down, the valve 18 is moved inward against the tension of the spring 21 and the opening 22 brought over the neck 6, so as to allow a pellet 15 to pass into the cap 9. Upon removing his thumb from the end 19 the spring 21 returns the valve to its normal position, thus causing its solid portion to stand over the neck 6 and support the pellet 15 within the cap. By moving the device so so as to draw the exposed portion of the pellet 15 across a rough surface the coating 17 will ignite the pellet, which, owing to its inflammable center 16, will burn for some time, the openings 10 in the cap 9 acting to supply draft and assist in the combustion.

It is apparent that the bottle or receptacle 5 may be used in connection with any style of match-box without in any way altering the construction of the same, and should it be desired the bottle can be removed from the match-box and the same used in the usual way.

I do not wish to limit myself to the exact details of construction and operation herein described, as I may make various changes in the same wholly within the scope of the claim and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V In a device of the character set forth, the combination with an outer casing having a hinged cover, of a receptacle adapted to contain a plurality of combustible pellets, a hollow cap mounted on the receptacle adapted to receive and retain one of said combustible pellets, said cap having an open upper side, a slide having an opening therethrough slidable mounted between the receptacle and the cap, a spring which normally holds the opening in said slide out of alinement with the opening in the cap, said slide being adapted to be manually operated to bring the opening in the slide into alinement with the opening of the cap, and said slide being free to return to its normal position when released, the slide and the pellet-containing receptacle being entirely inclosed by the outer box or casing when the cover of the latter is closed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses WILLIAM B. GOODWIN. I/Vitnesses A. L. PHELPS, M. B. SoHLEY. 

